POLICE FORCE

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 78, 29 September 1934, Page 10

POLICE FORCE

PROPOSED AUXILIARY

LABOUR PROTESTS

SOME HEATED WORDS

"PIMPS AND PINKERTONS"

Strong protests against the proposal to establish an auxiliary police force in New Zealand were voiced by members of 'the Opposition in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon when the estimates of the Police Department were under consideration. Labour members did not mince words in condemning the proposal, and at times the Chairman of Committees (Mr. S. G. Smith) had difficulty in maintaining order. There was a spirited scene at the conclusion of the day's sitting, just after 6 o'clock, and in this the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. G. W. Forbes) clashed with the Leader of the Opposition (Mr. M. J. Savage) in a sharp exchange of words. The Police Vote had not been passed when the House adjourned for the weekend. Tlig ball was set rolling by Mr. W. E. Purry (Labour, Auckland Central), who wanted to know from the Minister of Justice (the Hon. J. G. Cobbe) how far he had gone on with the proposal to establish an auxiliary force. Mr. H. Atmore (Independent, Nelson) : Tho Government storm troops. Mr. Parry: Yes; I would like to know whether it is going to bo a storm troop organisation. This is a question that is going to affect the whole of the peonle of this country. Mr. E. J. Howard (Labour, Christchurch South) asked if it was a fact that t'ae members of the auxiliary force were to be paid at the rate of £1 a month, for attending two parades a month, and also if it was intended that no recruit would be allowed to join tho Police Force unless he went through tho auxiliary organisation in the first place. FORCE NOT SUFFICIENT. The Minister of Justice said that there was no item on the Estimates dealing with the matter, but he had no objection to giving the House the fullest information. The present strength, of the Police Force in New Zealand was 1211. Mr. Parry: We have no objection to reinforcing the service in the proper way. Mr. Cobbe said that at present there was not a sufficient force to deal with largo crowds which, might congregate in the cities. It was well known that at the end of the present year there would bo a largo influx of visitors to the main centres, and it was felt that there should be a reserve force which could bo called on in case of emergency. It was proposed to appoint 150 men to Auckland, 100 to Wellington, GO to Christchureh, and 40 to Dunedin, a total of 350 men. The Government was hopeful that it would not be necessary to call on the auxiliary force for duty. It was true that members of the force would bo paid £1 a month, and that they would be required to attend evening parados, possibly twice a month. Although they would not receive the full training of , the regular force, they would have sufficient training to enable them to discharge certain duties in close association with tho regular force. It was estimated that the auxiliary force would involvo an annual expenditure of £4100. To increase the regular force by the same number would involvo an annual expenditure of £105,000, so it would be seen that a considerable saving would be effected. It had been repeatedly impressed upon the Government that there was not a sufficient Police Force in New Zealand. Eventually it was proposed to increase the penmanent force and the proposed auxiliary force would give the Government an opportunity of taking the most suitable men. FvEDUCED CONDITIONS? Mr. W. J. Jordan (Labour, Manukau) asked if it was the intention of the Government to reduce the conditions of tho permanent Police Force as a result of the existence of the auxiliary force. The Minister: There is no intention of that. Mr. Jordan said that the whole of the conditions of the London Metropolitan Police Force had been ruined by the very proposal the Minister was introducing. They had a most efficient Police Force in New Zealand at the present tinie, and it would be disastrous if, under the proposed system, men were being trained to step in and take tho places of members of the regular force. If the auxiliaries wanted to be policemen they should be allowed to join the force in the ordinary way. All- over the country, and certainly in the Police Force, there was great dissatisfaction over the proposal. Mr. F. W. Schramm (Labour, Auckland East) asid that the fact that tho Government had paid a special remuneration to the Police Force showed that the policemen in New Zealand were overworked at the present time. If the Government was looking for trouble it would appoint the auxiliary police, but if it wanted to preserve law and order it would do nothing of the kind, but would see to it that the permanent force of the country was properly trained and equipped. He had come into personal contact with many of the rank and file of the Police Force, and he could say definitely that they were dead against the proposal. If it were put into effect there would be not only civil discontent, but discontent throughout tho police service. The whole proposal was absolutely wrong and should not bo allowed, and if the Minister wanted to do a good service to the people of New Zealand he would withdraw it. "NO BELIEF WORKERS." Mr. H. T. . Armstrong (Labour, Christchurch East) said that when tho Minister made his first announcement he said that the positions in the auxiliary force would bo filled by persons in prominent positions. ''I take it from that that no relief worker need apply," said Mr. Armstrong. "It seems to me that it is the intention in the future that the Police Force shall be recruited exclusively from one section of the community, and that a considerable section of the working class* shall be ruled out. We are introducing class war with a vengeance." At this stage, the Leader of the Opposition intervened to ask whether it was the intention of the Government to go on with the Estimates in spite of the fact that the ordinary hour of adjournment (5.30 p.m.) had been reached. The Minister of Lands (the Hon. E. A. Ransom), who was temporarily in charge of the House, said that they had not made the progress they had set out to make. Labour members: We have made record progress in the passing of these classes. Mr. Savage: Wo don't want to be unreasonable, and we are not going to bo treated in an unreasonable manner. We want some definite indication

as to how far we are going to go. Wil) the Minister say that the House will rise at 6 o'clock? Mr. Eansom: Yes. " MOST UNPOPULAR. Mr. R. McKeen (Labour, Wellington South) said he wanted to say in all kindness that the action proposed by the Minister in setting up an auxiliary police force was the most unpopular thing that the Government had done for a long while. Did the proposal mean that the regular members of the Police Force were going to be dismissed? The Hon. A. D. McLeod (Government, Wairarapa): Who is this unpopular with? Mr. McKeen: It is unpopular with every citizen to whom I have spoken, and it is also unpopular with every member of the Police Force. Mr. Savage said that recent activities on the part of the Police Force of New Zealand would compare more than favourably with anything in the rest of the world, and he would deprecate anything that would make the members of the force feel uneasy. What they were proposing to do was to set up a secret organisation. The whole proposal was a most undesirable one. If the Minister felt he needed aditional strength for the force he would get it without any argument. "Why cannot we havo things above board?" s*id Mr. Savage. "lam sure there is not one man in the regular force who would feel comfortable under a condition such as this. A system of spying will fail anywhere. It would not be successful in any country, and it is certainly not necessary iv this country.'' VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE. Mr. R. Semple (Labour, Wellington East) said that the proposal could be taken as a definite vote of no confidence in the permanent Police Force of New Zealand. The average man had a great deal of respect for the policeman, but he did not respect a pimp or a "Pinkerton." He thought there was no doubt that the members of the auxiliary force would be regarded as a gang of pimps. They would certainly be so regarded by the permanent Police Force itself. Mr. Cobbe denied that he had ever said that the auxiliary force would be recruited from the better class of people. It was highly improper for members to make such a suggestion. At 6 o'clock Mr. Forbes said that he understood that an undertaking had been given that tho House was to rise at that hour. When the Minister of Lands had given that undertaking it was on the understanding that the class would be passed, but he had been 1 t down. SOME STRONtt WORDS. Mr. Savage: There was no such undertaking. Labour members: Stick to your word. Mr. Forbes: Whenever the question of the Police Force is mentioned in tho House there is a lot heard_ from the Labour benches, but that is not going to deter the Government • Mr. Savage (somewhat heatedly): Have we got to listen to this sort 'of. thing? The Chairman of Committees said that he understood the Prime Minister was going to move to report progress. He pointed out that he could not allow discussion on the Estimates on such a motion. Mr. Semple (t> the Prime Minister): .Why don't you play the game? Mr. Forbes: I think it is a reasonable thing to report progress, but I was anxious A Labour member: Why don\ you fight fair? Mr. Forbes was proceeding to refer again to what had happened earlier in the debate when Mr. Savage interjected: "Have v.c got to lkten to another speech? We want to know how far wo are going. If the Prime Minister wants to sit all niglit we will be with him." Mr. Fraser (to the Prime Minister): Keep your promise like a man. Mr. Forbes: I will move to report progress, and I will be pleased to discuss the Police Force with the Labour Party when we meet on Tuesday. The House adjourned at 6.5 p.m.